It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Raili Hellevi Toivainen. She passed away peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Saviour at Roseview Manor on July 19, 2022.
Raili was born in Kuopio, Finland on November 7, 1932. She married Reijo Karhunen on July 24, 1954 in Finland and they immigrated to Port Arthur in 1957.
Raili worked at Kivela Bakery when she arrived in Port Arthur. They moved to Nakina and then Longlac where she worked for a time at Weldwood. Raili moved to Thunder Bay in 1981 after her husband, Reijo, passed away in 1980. There she was involved in the Saalem Church, singing in the choir and worked many summers at the children’s church camp at Warnica Lake.
She married Veikko Toivainen in 1991 and had many happy years together until he passed away in 2015.
She loved baking and will be remembered making pulla, piirakas and Finnish meatballs.
Raili will be lovingly remembered by children Kari, Anne, and Asko (Jackie); grandchildren Crystal, Katelin, Robert, Kaarina, William, Jordan, Nikolai, Sarah, Emma, Raili; great grandchildren Anastasia, Gabe, Delilah, Eevie, Ambrose; and brother Lauri Sadko and nieces and nephews.
Raili was predeceased by her brothers Raimo and Matti Laitinen and son-in-law Dave.
Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 presided by Pastor Jarmo Heiti & Pastor Jarkko Ketola of Saalem Church at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Raili’s memory to the Alzheimer Society of Thunder Bay.
